Is this Britain's biggest junior rugby club? Battersea Ironsides boasts 830 youngsters playing every week... and now they're off to Twickenham

They boast Harlequins props Kyle Sinckler and Darryl Marfo among their alumni and their first team is playing at Twickenham this weekend.

But Battersea Ironsides have a more impressive claim to fame - they believe their junior section is one of Britain's biggest, with an astonishing 830 junior members regularly turning out to train and play at their home in Earlsfield, south-west London.

Based in one of the capital's most economically diverse areas, the club welcomes youngsters from all backgrounds.

Big club: Just some of the approximately 830 young members of Battersea Ironsides which is thought to be one of Britain's biggest junior rugby club. Its first XV play at Twickenham this weekend

Training: Nigel Taylor-Walker, who helped set up the mini section of the club, helps out with a game

Celebrating: Junior sides across the club have proved successful in a number of competitions

Sinckler, who toured New Zealand with England last year, has credited his professional career and avoidance of gangs in the tough housing estate where he grew up to Battersea Ironsides, the club he joined as an eight-year-old.

'My mum spoke to one of her friends who said she should take me down to the local rugby club to see if I liked it. I rocked up in my Manchester United shirt, played a game of touch and the rest is history,' he said.

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Now the success in attracting enough youngsters to fill scores of teams between under-six and under-21 level is being replicated by the 72-year-old club's seniors, whose first team have just won their league and will be promoted to play London-level rugby for the first time.

And this weekend the Ironsides' top team will be at Twickenham to contest the RFU Junior Vase National Final.

The side made the final after defeating Gloucester-based Longlevens and now face Yorkshire's Northallerton RFC.

Mick Walsh, Director of Rugby 'All of our teams have topped their respective tables and the under-21s have reached the county final.'

Senior side: The Ironsides' first team will contest the RFU Junior Vase National Final. Pictured is Neal McGowan going over in the semi-final

Captain: Colin O’Keeffe has skippered the first XV over a successful season which culminates at Twickenham

Colin O’Keeffe, who captains the side and played an instrumental part in the semi-final victory, said: 'The Coaching and physio team have been a key element to our success this season.

'We have really seen an improvement in the players’ understanding of the game and skill levels.

‘We have had astounding success this season for our small grass roots club with many historical moments.

'We may be a small club but we have depth in the playing and coaching ranks with over 100 seniors and over 800 junior players and a huge breadth in support from our past players, who are rightly a part of this history, many of whom have moved around the world.

'The Ironsides family will be out in force on Sunday and Monday to watch what we hope will be another historic day for Battersea.'

The first team is coached by Alex Hadley, a former under-21 England player, who said: 'The success of the club is not just seen in the first team but the second, third and fourth teams are within distance of winning their respective leagues as well.'